The Scarlet Knights will experience Boise State's blue turf for the first time when they travel to Boise, Idaho, next season as part of their Big East slate. (Photo credit: BroncoSports.com)

A home game against Houston and road trips to Boise, Idaho, and Orlando, Fla., highlight Rutgers’ 2013 Big East football schedule, released Tuesday afternoon by the conference.

In addition to hosting new Big East member Houston, the Scarlet Knights will greet Cincinnati, the University of South Florida and Temple in league play next season at High Point Solutions Stadium.

The Scarlet Knights travel to Boise State, the University of Central Florida, Connecticut and Louisville to complete their eight-game Big East schedule.

Gone from the Big East next season are Pittsburgh and Syracuse and in are Boise State, San Diego State, Memphis, Central Florida, Houston and SMU.

Rutgers will play in the East Division along with Central Florida, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Louisville and South Florida. The West Division will feature Boise State, Houston, Memphis, San Diego State, SMU and Temple. The champions of the two divisions will square off in the first Big East title game, with the winner earning the conference’s automatic BCS berth.

Rutgers will open next season on Thursday, Aug. 29, at Fresno State. The Scarlet Knights’ non-conference schedule also includes home games against FCS-foe Norfolk State (Sept. 7), Eastern Michigan (Sept. 14) and Arkansas (Sept. 21). The visit by the Razorbacks will mark the first time a SEC foe will play on-campus versus the Scarlet Knights.

In all, Rutgers has seven home games and five road tilts next season. The Scarlet Knights will board flights for four of the five road affairs. Dates for all of Rutgers’ Big East matchups will be announced at a later time.

It figures to be the Scarlet Knights only season in the newly-configured Big East, as Rutgers officials are targeting 2014 as their first year in the Big Ten. To compensate for the loss of Rutgers as well as Louisville (which joined the ACC), the Big East recently announced the additions of Tulane and East Carolina for the 2014 season.

Next year’s Big East slate will produce 48 regular-season games — the most in conference history — with each of the 12 teams playing eight league contests. Each team will play five division games and three crossover matchups.

“Our new home and away matchups for football in 2013 will create an exciting, competitive, and compelling season, culminating in our first-ever Big East Championship Game,” Big East Commissioner Mike Aresco said in a statement. “I know that our Big East coaches, student-athletes, and fans have been looking forward both to the renewal of traditional rivalries and to great matchups with our newcomers. With games played in some of the nation’s most dynamic college football markets and biggest media centers, we are expecting a season of intense, high-caliber football played on a national stage.”

Rutgers will close out this season by facing Virginia Tech in the Russell Athletic Bowl on Dec. 28 at Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla. The Scarlet Knights (9-3), who won a share of their first Big East crown this fall, are seeking their sixth straight bowl triumph.